Automatic reversing mechanism for door-operating motors



P. R. FORMAN,

AUTOMAHC REVERSING MECHANISV FOR DOOR OPERATING MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. l9|5 l LSQO Patented Feb. 3,1920.

2 SHEES-SHEE 1. QF

P. R. FORMAN. AUTOMATIC HEI/EHSTNG MECHANTSM TOR DOOR OPERATING MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22. 1915.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

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2 SHEEIS-SHEET 2.

TTD sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

PARIS R. FORMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC BEVER/SING MECHANISIVI FOR DOOR-OPERATING MOTORS.

wearer.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

Application filed July 22, 1915. Serial No. 41,331.

device for lreve-Ising the door operatingy motor. I

The object of the invention is to provide a trip valve device which controls the supply of operating medium to the motor, Jand which operates when the door,in its closing movement, encounters an obstruction, to reverse the door operating motor.

A further object is to provide a trip or reversing device of the nature referred to, which is independent of the main motor control valve mechanism.

A further object is to provide a reversing mechanism of the nature referred to which permits the door operating motor to resume its door closing operation when the obstruction encountered by the door is removed.

A further object is to provide a safety arrangement of the nature referred to which is rendered inoperative when the door reaches, or closely approaches the eXtreme limit of its closed position.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location, and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a View in elevation showing a door operating mechanism and a trip valve device embodyingr my invention applied thereto, the latter being in longitudinal ccntral section, with the valves iinscated.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the trip valve device.

vFig. 3 is a view in central longitudinal section of the trip valve device showing the valves seated.

Fig. 4 is a view somewhat diagrammatic, showing the relation of the trip valve, the main motor control valve, and the motor.

i Fig. 5 is a view in transverse section through the trip valve casing and plunger, as indicated lby the line .5, 5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the vent control arrangement for the trip valve.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the automatic trip valve device and the connections thereto.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In carrying out my invention I propose to employ a motor suitably connected to a door or other part to be moved, and a coiiitrol mechanism for the motor, all of which parts may be of any usual, well known or suitable type or construction to secure the proper operation of the door, for instance, to open or to closed positions, and to secure the desired cushioning of the door as it approaches the limits of its movements.-

In connection with the motor and its usual or main control and cushioning connections of the general nature .referred to, I propose, in accordance with my present invention,to employ an auxiliary safety trip or reversing device which is actuated when the door encounters an obstruction during its closing movement, and when so actuated. causes the door operating motor to be reversed, and to resume its door closing operation when the obstruction is removed. I also propose to employ means to prevent the operation of.

the trip or motor reversing device after the door has reached, or nearly reached its completely closed position.

As an illustrative and operative embodiment of my invention I haveshoWn 'the same applied in connection' with a pneu matic motor which, in the forni shown, but to which my :invention is not tobe limited or restricted, comprises a cylinder 1, the respective ends of which operate the pistons 9 3, 'connected together by the intermediate rack 4, the latter meshing with a segment gear 5, to which is connected an arm 6, the

vlatter suitably connected to a door 7, as indicated at 8, and in such manner that when the connected pistons 2, 3, are shifted to one limit of their movement the door is moved to completely open position, and when shifted to the other limit of their movement the door is moved to completely closed position. In the position and relation of the parts as shown the door 7 is in its completely closed position, in whichvcase-the operating arm 6 occupies an approximately horizontalposition.

The supply and exhaust of operating medium, such as compressed air, to and from the motor cylinder 1, is controlled by a mam valve device indicated generally by reference numeral 9. In the form diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4, to which, however, my invention is not to be limited or restricted,

the main control valve device 9, includes a pressure supply port 10 and exhaust port 11, and a pair of ports to communicate with each end of the cylinder 1. Thus the ports 12, 13, are shown as communicating with the right hand end of the cylinder, while the ports 14, 15, communicate with the left hand end of the cylinder. The ports 12, 14, communicate respectively with the extreme ends of the cylinder, while the ports 13, 15, communicate lwith the cylinder at points removed from the respective ends thereof. These ports 13, 15, are designed to be of large area while the ports 12, 14, are of restricted area. In operation the supply port 10 is brought into communication with either theoneor theother of the ports 12, 14. It

is shown in communication with port 12 which communicates with the 'extreme right hand end of the cylinder 1. In this relation the ports 14 and 15 should be in com' munication with the exhaust port 11, and the P011; 13. closed. Similarly when supply port 10, `communicates with port 14, the ports 12,

13, shouldbe in communication with exhaust portll, andport 15 closed.

With the ports in the position shown, that is, with the door closed, suppose it be desired to open the door. To do this theA valve device 91s operated to bring ports 10 and 14 into` communication with each other. This closes port 15, and opens ports 12 and 13 to exhaust port 11. The result is that pressure ymedium is supplied to the left hand end of thecylinder whilethe right hand end of the cylinder is freel open to exhaust through ports12, 13. T ereupon, the pistons 2, 3, begln-to move toward the right, thereby moving the door toward open position. W'henthe piston 2 passes over the connection 5o of. port 13 to the .cylinder the further exhaust through this port of large area is cut 0E,V all the exhaust thereafter being compelled to go through the restricted port 12, thereby securing the desired cushioning operation.

I ,will nonr describethe auxiliary trip or reyersin valve-,devlce employed in connection ,with the-mOQIT and control mechanism above described, and which embodies my .present invention,

Arranged in the connection from-themessure. supply tank-16pm the-.supply port 10, ott-,he ,main control device 9, is .an auxiliary trip Or-rprm valve device which consists c5,` ofa'cylmderl in whichoperatesa plun- -right' from its normal position.

ger 18 With a loose sliding fit. This plunger carries a valve 19 at one end which controls a connection 20, from the cylinder 17 to the left hand end of main motor cylinder 1. The tank 16 delivers into the space 22 at one 70 end of cylinder 17 through a' connection 21. The plunger 18 is provided with longitudinal ducts 23, which open at one end into the, space 22, and at the other end into a peripheral channel 2-1. When the plunger 1,8 is in 75 normal position the valve 19 is seated, thereby cutting off supply of pressure medium to the main motor cylinder 1, through connection 20, While, at the same time the channel 24, is 'in communication with a connection 80 25, see Fig. 4, which delivers to the supply port 10, of the main valve control device 9. The plunger 18 is held in its normal position .by the tension of a spring 26, supplemented by pressure medium which leaks from space 22 past the loose fitting plunger 18, into the space 27 at the other end of cylinder 17, andl in which space the spring 26 is located. This leakage pressure is sufficient to equali'ze, or partially so, the pressure on opposite 90 ends of the plunger thereby making ei'ective the tension of spring 26 to hold the plunger 1n its normal position With the valve 19 seated. If, however, the pressure medium is exhausted from chamber 27, as by opening said chamber to the atmosphere, the pressure in chamber 22, immediately becomes effectivc to overcome the tension of spring 26, thereby shifting the' plunger toward the This unseats valve 19, thereby admitting pressure medium from the supply source 16, through space 22, and connection 20 to the left hand end of main motor cylinder l. At the same time the peripheral channel 24 is shifted out 100 of register with connection 25 to port 10, and another peripheral channel 28 in the plunger 18 is brought into register with connection 25. Duets 29, 30, formed through plunger 18, communicate between the peripheral channel 28 and the space 27. When, therefore, the plunger 18 is shifted toward the right from its normal position, that is, when the chamber 27, is opened to the atmosphere, the right hand end of the main motor cylinder 1 is opened to exhaust through ports 12 and 10, connection 25, channel 28, ducts 29, 30, and chamber 27 and this is accomplished without disturbi ing the main control valve 9. The chamber lJO .27v is opened to the atmosphere through a port '31, and this port is controlled by a valve 32, which is normallyseated to close the port 31 by means of a spring 33.

Now, by providing means to unseat valve` 32, as, for instance, When the door during its closing movement, encounters an obstruction, the motor which is acting close the door is reversed Withouty operating or disturbing the main control valve 9, thus pro. 130

viding a safety arrangement which prevents -injury to lpersons accidentally caught be-.

,Y tween the door and -jamb while the door is` closing.

Many specifically different arrangements maybe employed for unseating the valve 32. In accordance with my invention I propose to employ means'to unseat said valve when the door, in its closing movement encounters an obstruction, but which is ine'ectiveto unseat said valve after the door is completely closed' or is very nearly completely closed. A simple arrangement for accomplishing this result isv shown consistingl of a shoe 34:, movably mounted at the front edge of the door, and adapted to be shifted relatively to lthe door in case the door, in closing, encounters an obstruction. Such shoes are commoninthe art. The movement of the shoe relative to the door is transmitted-through suitable connec-v tions 35, to one arm of a bell crank lever 36,

f `latter is in position to completely close theV door or is very closely approaching that popivoted at its angle upon a bracket carried bythe casing or mounting of cylinder 17, the other arm of said lever 36 being arranged to extend across, the line of the stem 37 of valve 13 2. (See Fig. 6.)` Interposed between the 1ever'36and the s tem37, 1s an abutment 38, which, however, 1s Withdrawable from between said lever and stem. Where -the abutment is positioned between the lever and stem, and the lever is rocked by the shifting f movement` of'the shoe as above described, the

valve -32 will be useated and the main 'motor reversed. ,When the abutment 38 is withdrawnthe-shifting movement of the shoe is not effective to unseat the valve 32;y The -abutment 38 is connected by a rod-39, (see Fig. 1) toonearm of a lever 40,-the other arm ofwlneh 1s arranged tobe engaged and rocked by the door' operating arm, when the When the lever 4:0 is'thus rocked sition.

the abutment 38 is shifted from between. the

lever 36 and stem. 37, and-consequently when so shifted the rocking of lever 36 or the shifting of shoe 34, will not causethe motor to reverse. v "When` the motor has been reversed by the shift-ing. of the vshoe 34,as above explained, it

'is permitted to resume its door closing operaie tion when Vtheshoe 34 returns to its-normal position, that is, when the obstruction which cansed the shoe to be shifted-has been removed the spring 33,*acting 'on valve 32 becomes eifective Jto` againseat said valve.

` Thereupon equalizing pressure again builds l11p-in chamber 27, through leakage` from chamber 28 past plunger 18 thereby allowing the tension of spring .26 to become effective, to restore plunger 18 to its normal positionL with the valve 1-9 seated. When the closing v movementI of the 'door is resumed after lits operating motor has 4been reversed, as'above explained, the door Willnot `slam through F any built up pressure used in reversing its operating motor because this pressure employed to reverse the motor is .open to exhaust through the restricted port 14. Consequently a cushioning action takes place in lthe main motor.

ing motor and its control devices, of a `source 1 of power medium, a reversing device for the motor located between the source of powerl medium and the motor control devices, and means operated by an obstruction to the door in its closing movement to operate said reversing device. l l

2. The combination of a door operating motor, a main control valve therefor, a slip-V ply connection for admitting operating-medium thereto, an auxiliary reversing valve device arranged in the supply connection of .the operating medium to the main control valve, and means to operate the reversing valve without disturbing the main motor valve.

" -3.A The combination of a 'door.operating motor, a main control valve therefor, an auxiliarywreverslng valve device arranged 1n operated by an obstruction tothe door'in the supply`connecti`on ofthe 'operating medium to the main control valve, and means ice its closing movement, to operate the reversj ing valve. e

4 The combination with al door operat-v ing motor and its'control devices, of means to reverse the motor independently of its eration of the reversing means when the door sitionL 5. Thev combination with -a door operating motor and its control devices,'of` means to reverse the motor independently of its control devices, and means operated vby the doormoving devices` as thev door reaches its closed position to prevent operationof the reversing means. f

- `closely approaches its completely closed po 6. The combination withadoor operating i motor and lits control devices, 'of Huid pres-v sure controlled means to reverse the motor, said `means controlled by an obstructlon to the door in closing and means to preventthe operation of the reversing means Wlien the motor closely approachests complete door closed position. i y n .1

7. The combinationwlth a door, operating 11o `control devices and means to prevent the opmotor and its control-devices, of fluid pres.-

sure eontrolledmeans to reverse the motor,

said means controlled by an obstructionto the door in closing and means operated by the door moving devices-. as the door reaches its closed position to the reversing means.

8. In a door operating mechanism and in combination with a motor and its main con-v trol Ivalve, an auxiliary valve casing co'mmunicating With a .power supply source, one end of the motoigthe motor control valve and the outer air, a plunger loosely 'fitting --said cylinder and having a -valve to control the connection to the motor, said plunger controlling` the connection to the motor valve, a valve to control theconnection of /said casing to the atmosphere, and means to 'I operate said last mentioned valve.

9. vIn va door-'operating mechanism and in combination with a motor and its main con- 4 trol valve, an auxiliary valvej. casing, la

loose-ly lfitting plunger operating in said casing,'a connection from one end of, said cas-l ing to a pressure supply source, 4and also to 'one side of the motor, saidfplungerhaving a valve to control said last mentioned oonnection, a spring acting to normally shift the. plunger t'o seat said valve when the pressure on opposite sides of the plunger is equalzed, and means to` disturb the equalized pressures on opposite sides ofthe valve to unseat said valve.

10. In a door operating mechanism and in combination with a motor and lits main con- -trol valve, an auxiliary valve casing, a

. loosely fitting plunger operating in said causesaid valve to unseat. f

the other endof thev casing to4 el'atmos- 1915 phare. j

casing, .a connection from one end of said casing to a pressure supply source, and also to. one side oi the motor, said plunger having valve to control said lastmentioned connection, a spring acting to normally shift the plunger to seatsaid valve vvlienfthepressureon opposite sides of the plunder 1s equalized, and means to open the other `end Vof the casing to the atmosphere to .11. 'In a door o grating-mechanism and in combination wi h a moto1\ and its main control valve, an'auxiliary valve casing, a loosely-fitting ,plunger operating-in said casing,fa connection from one-end of said casing to a pressure supply source, and also to one side ofthe motor, said plunger having a valve to control said last mentioned connection, a spring acting lto normally vsli-ift the plunger. to seat said valvewhen the pressure on opposite 'sides ofthe plungeris e"ue tlized,- and means operated by an obstruction to the doorin closin .to open prevent operation of- 12. In a door operating mechanism and in combinationv with a1 motor and itsma'in.'

control valve, ran auxiliary -valve casing, a loosely fitting plunger operating in 'said casing, a connection from one end of said casing to a pressure supply source, and also t'o one side Aofthe motor, said plunger having a valve to control said last mentioned connection, a spring acting to normally shift the plungerto seat Said valve when .fthe pressure on opposite sides `ofthe p lunger is equalized, said plunger having ports lrespectively communicating with the pressure source and With the other` end of said casing, and means to shiftV said plunger to open said 'valve and to openthe other Side of the motor to` exhaust.

.13. In a door. operating vmechanism and in combination with a motor and its mam control valve, lan auxiliary valve casing, .a loosely tting plunger operating in said casmg, a connection 4from one end of said casmg to a pressure supply source, and also to one side of the motor, said plungerhaving a valve to control said last mentioned connection, a spring acting to normally shift the plunger to seat said valve when `the pressure on opposite sides of the plunger 1s equalized, said-plunger having-supply andexhaust ports to coperate with the main motor valve, said supply ports being norm-ally open to said main valve, andr means to shift said. plunger to open the auxiliary plunger valve ,andto open the exhaust ports to the main motor valve.

14. In a Vdoor operating mechanism and 1n combination vwith a motor and its main control valve, an auxiliary valvecasing', av plunger `operating therein to open one side of the motor to pressure supply .and the other side to exhaust, and means operated by an'V obstruction to the door in closing to control said plunger.-

15. In a door operating mechanism and in combination with ai motor and its main control valve, --an' auxiliary lvalve casing,`

auxiliary devices to; open `one side of the motor topressure suppl y and the other side to exhaust, and means to control said 116. Ina door operatingmechanismy and in combination with a motor and its main control valve, an auxiliary valve casing, auxiliary devices to open one side of .the motor to pressure supply and the other side tofexhaust, and means voperated byan ob? l str u'ctionv to the door in closing to control said devices. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

